confession: to be honest, i am a bit pizzled
January 4th, 2008
For a few months now someone has been emailing me a link to this review of my book: http://youthesource.com/Index.asp?PageID=7082&Function=View&ArticleID=1305 — Almost every week I get an email — sometimes a couple of times a week. It is wicked annoying.
I am not sure who is sending it or why they feel like it is important that I be reminded of it. Whoever it is — they are a wuss for not responding to my replies and for not being willing to have a conversation.
I am a bit pizzled (I borrowed that word from Daniel Goleman: Why aren’t we all Good Samaritans? a short lecture at www.ted.com. Pizzled is the feeling you get when someone whips out their Blackberry aka crackberry or cell phone and begins having a conversation with someone. It’s a cross between pissed off and puzzled. Urban Dictionary) about it really. I am not at all pizzled about the review. Some youth workers like my book, some don’t. Some youth workers find it helpful, some don’t. I am okay with that. That is the way that it is for most books people write, movies that are produced, music that is written, building that are designed, etc. Everyone has preferences and whatnot.
If you read the review I linked to above you’ll see the reviewer hated my book — but at least it made her think. In the end, for me, that is what it is about. Who cares where you land. Did it make you think? That is what is important.
Courtesy of Mark Matlocks www.wisdomgarb.com!
So, don’t be a hater. If you have something to say — I am listening. But stop hiding behind your generic @hotmail account.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Just FYI, I told Doug to stop doing that. The year should get better, at least.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Wow! That is soo weak sauce. They are just jealous. : )
You may need to break dance fight them??
January 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I actually found the review entirely unhelpful. If the intended audience is a largely Lutheran one, then perhaps the review is more helpful, though still somewhat dismissive of the content. Therein is my largest concern; actualy engagement with the idea of reculturing for the sake of greater faithfulness to God’s redemption and restoration in Christ is largely ignored, which I took to be the central thesis of your book. So, whoever is dropping the email bombs on you ought to at least find a more substantively critical review, or so it seems to me. Bad form on both the emailer and reviewer.
January 5th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Hey just stumbled across your post, and after reading the review that you referenced to, I thought I would leave a comment. While I have not read your book, to be honest I hadn’t heard of it before today, I do understand the concept of tradition versus relevance especially in regards to youth ministry (I have been a youth pastor for over five years now). I believe the answer like many issues in church culture lies somewhere between both extremes. On one side you have the desire to be relevant to todays youth culture, which is great. But the danger in that is that you can become so like secular culture that you lose the ability to affect change. And on the flip side you can become so stuck in tradition, in doing things the way they’ve always been done that you become exclusive. At which point your no longer able to go and reach the world for Christ. The answer I believe is being relevant without watering down the message, and in being flexible in your approach to ministry. Not everyone can be reached hymns, nor can everyone be reached by rock music. You can’t reach everyone through a sports ministry just like you can’t reach everyone by taking them camping. Different people respond to different methods. We have to be able to reach youth where they are, bringing them a relevant yet still spiritually powerful message of salvation.
Well anyway there’s my two cents worth. May God continually bless you and your ministry,
Aaron Brant
January 5th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
len -
thanks for looking out for me!
chris
January 5th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
jeremy -
i was totally thinking the same thing — a break dance off. nice.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
aaron-
thanks for stumbling by
i agree with you. it is a fine line between the two — culture and relevance. email me your address and i’ll send you a copy of my book.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Aaron…
I think you should read Chris’ book. He is actually not advocating selling-out for the sake of relevance; as in an abandonment of tradition. This relevance vs. tradition dichotomy is, as you say, overplayed and unhelpful. Chris’ book rather suggests a move towards a more holistic youth ministry, rooted in the narrative of God’s mission of restoration of the world, centralized in Jesus Christ (that’d be my summary Chris…I hope you’d find it accurate). This is much more substantive than a mere calling for relevance. He challenges some long-time youth practices, but admits that a process of reculturing is not what every youth ministry context calls for. I recommend taking a look at his book. You’ll see that its much more than just a blanket call for relevance.
Wow, two long posts in one day. Must be something I’m avoiding.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
erik -
i think your summary of my book is a good one and very helpful for folks interested in reading it … thanks for recommending it too!
January 6th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
The Blog Snap: Sometimes You Can’t Hold It In
I know exactly how Chris Folmsbee feels. Chris is Chief Ministry officer at YouthFront and President of Sonlife. He’s a class act guy and is an excellent leader.
Part of being a leader is sticking your neck out. And Chris has done that. He put th…
January 8th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Hi Chris!
I am the author of the review. Not the email. I promise. I am not so lame to do something like that. I’m sorry they keep sending it to you and that I might come off like a hater in the review. Retrospective editing is a lot easier.
I didn’t hate your book (or you). My reviews are based on usefulness to a very certain segment of youth ministry and clearly aren’t intended for every youth minister everywhere.
I am all for reculturing our churches, but I didn’t feel like this was the book to guide the intended readership (historical Lutheran churches and all their quirks) through that process. The reality is many of our congregations aren’t ready to change at the drop of a hat and need patient teaching, coaxing, and training in the ideas of missional living and learner centric eduction. I was frustrated in my read of the book because I felt that most of the reculturing was things that I was already working towards, things I already felt passionate about. You said it well, but didn’t explain to me how exactly I was to inact change without falling into the same traps of frustration you experienced in your congregational ministry. I am a big picture person, but as you rightly point out in your book–communication is key. But you didn’t give us the communication.
I didn’t say that well enough in the article and retrospectively wrote things that are easily misread. And I apologize.
As Jeremy came to know yesterday, I love good dialogue. Though it sometimes takes me more than 800 words to spit it out.
Peace on your Tuesday,
Alaina
January 8th, 2008 at 8:48 am
alaina-
thanks for stopping by and adding your thoughts. no worries on the review — seriously! i can appreciate any review — people have opinions. that’s totally cool. i have them too. it was nice of you to “re-edit” some of your words.
i was pizzled about the fact that someone (who most likely appreciated your review and may not have even read my book) felt it necessary to bombard my mind and heart with the negativity that came from your review without a thought as to what kind of an annoyance it might be to the receiver…
i was hoping to hear from the culprit — but so appreciate you taking the time stop by and add your thoughts.
blessings friend,
chris